Week 5

Assignment 2:

Integrating game-based learning in the classroom provides teachers with a unique and effective tool to enhance literacy instruction as well as the teaching of all other subjects. Although gaming is not a traditional teaching method, this new concept has proven to be a great advancement in the classroom. When introduced to the idea of using games in my classroom, I was reluctant. and worried if it's possible to bring this technology into the classroom without distracting students from the learning goals. However, I realized that as a teacher I can use the right techniques to incorporate gaming effectively in the classroom and make sure the games are used to enhance student learning, without becoming a distraction. 

Students of today's generation are exposed to all kinds of technology and the technology we use in the classroom increases their motivation to learn drastically. Students are excited and eager to research, locate, evaluate, synthesize or communicate information for learning when they are using technological tools in the process. On the contrary, when they don't have the technology, they can find the learning boring and lose out so much. Additionally, when gaming is used for literacy instruction, students will develop their new literacy skills, which they will greatly benefit from in their future.

Assignment 3:


Game Scenario/Script

Week 4:

Assignment 1:

Game - Ruzzle

1. What gaming elements provide users the learning content and how?

• Text: The text is provided by written instructions to the game as well as feedback. Additionally, throughout playing, the scrambled letters must be read to form new words.
• Visual-graphic elements: Visual-graphic elements are provided by scrambled letters and bonus tiles, which players use to collect more points than their opponent.
• Audio elements: Audio elements are provided to make it more enjoyable to play.

2. What is the goal of the game?

 The goal of this fast-paced word game is to find as many words as you can in two minutes.

3. What are rules of playing this game?

Find as many words as possible from a given set of letters in two minutes.

4. Does this game have any scenario design? (Refer to the journal article page 5.) If yes, is this a fabricated or embedded in curriculum-related content?

This game does not have any scenario design. 

Assignment 2:

Lesson Plan

Grade level - 1

Common cores standards and learning outcomes

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.B
Use common, proper, and possessive nouns.

Instructional activities

Class Activity:

Introduce common and proper nouns with this video.

Model underlining different types of nouns in sentences with different color markers.

Students collaboratively underline different types of nouns in sentences with different color markers.

Group Activity:

Every group gets a pile of index cards with common nouns. Students take turns picking up a card and coming up with a proper noun for that word.

Independent Activity:

Students play the "Noun War" game on their computers and complete a sheet to categorize which type of noun they aimed at in this virtual game. Students will then write in their daily journals about the different types of nouns they found in this game and how it helped clarify their understanding of this part of speech. This motivating game combined with the debriefing provides students with the practice they need for the lesson goals while enhancing their vocabulary bank.

Assessment

Students will be informally assessed during collaborative and group work. Their sheets used while playing the game online will be used to formally assess them.

Debriefing 

The sheet students work with while playing the game online scaffolds the learning for them. Additionally, when students write in their journals they reflect on how they performed on this game and how it will help them with their language use in real life.

What cognitive skills does this game cultivate?

Recognizing nouns.

What new literacies does this game cultivate

The challenge and adventure increases motivation to learn this new literacy concept.

Assignment 3:

Instructional Video

Week 3:

Assignment 1:

With the advancement of technology in the 21st century, our lives have been influenced in almost all areas. Our literacy practices are no exception. Even more so, literacy practices have taken on a whole new role with the use of internet becoming a regular part of our day-to-day life; changing the way we communicate, obtain information, and more. As educators, we want to provide our students with literacy instruction that will benefit them not only in their school years, but also in their future. Therefore, we must take into account the constant changes literacy is taking when we teach. The goal should be to help our students use the new literacies of the internet proficiently. By incorporating digital and media technologies in literacy activities as well as guiding students on how to use search engines and other internet sources effectively we can provide them with an effective new literacy 

experience.

Assignment 2:

Which ideas from the PPT reflect what the ELA teachers you interviewed are currently doing to integrate technology with their literacy instruction?
The teacher I interviewed uses technology in her classroom to help build her students ELA skills. She tries to help her young students build as much knowledge as possible through the use of technology. 

How can you help change their instructional practices to include the use of technology and the Internet in their literacy and content-area curriculum?

I would use technology more in ways that students can learn on their own. For example, encouraging students to create their own blogs or podcasts. I would also have students use technology for researching more. Before introducing a new concept or students writing about a topic, I would have them do the research instead of the teacher spoon-feeding them the information.

What professional development and/or resources will they need in order to make these changes?

They will have to learn as much as possible about integrating technology in the classroom effectively and be provided with all the equipment needed in the classroom.

What ideas do you have for grouping students so they will have equal access to technology in the classroom?

I think using centers and a rotating system is a great way to give all students equal access to technology in the classroom.

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